Martian, my Cornish buddy from previous travels, arranged a weekend of camping and walking across Dartmoor for the DFL (Down From London) set. Happily, we arrived at the pub campsite fairly early in the evening and pitched our tent before darkness fell. If the truth be told, we weren’t much looking forward to camping again; the weather had improved from driving rain to light mist — you know, that kind of ‘wet rain’… :o)

The others arrived at varying times between 8pm through to sometime close to midnight. Happily the DFLers had spent last month’s wage packet on the latest camping gear including what is now my favourite camping invention — the two second tent. These things are wild: Picture half an IKEA paper lightshade made from waterproof material, enlarged to comfortably home three people and flat-packed under spring-tension in a circular bag that looks as though it might be a hula-hoop carry case. Here’s how to pitch a two-second tent: Remove coiled item circular bag and throw it at ground. Watch in awe as the device explodes into a perfectly formed three man tent. Bang in a peg or two to keep it in place. Open beer and laugh at fellow campers trying to line up their fly-sheets with their inner-sheets. Boy how things have changed.

The 8-12 mile group walk (I cannot remember exactly how long it was) went well, oh apart from my trousers splitting a two inch gaping hole at the crotch, my trusty walking boots losing their waterproof qualities within 2 miles and then a lace snapping in the last 2 miles! A glorious time was had by all and much beer was drank. Here are the Dartmoor photos:

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